"The method compares the abundance of a naturally occurring radioactive isotope within the material to the abundance of its decay products, which form at a known constant rate of decay."
Techniques used to determine the age of objects or events, such as radiocarbon dating or dendrochronology.
Stratigraphy: This refers to the study of layers of rocks and sediments to determine their chronological order and the events that brought about the changes in them.
Seriation: This is the process of arranging artifacts found in a particular site in a chronological order.
Absolute dating: This involves determining the exact age of an event or artifact.
Relative dating: This involves determining the chronological order of events without necessarily knowing the exact dates.
Cross-dating: This is the process of linking artifacts found in different sites to develop a chronological sequence.
Dendrochronology: This is the study of tree-ring patterns to determine the age of wooden objects.
Radiocarbon dating: This is a method of dating materials that contain carbon. It relies on the fact that the carbon isotopes have different decay rates.
Thermoluminescence dating: This is a method of dating materials that were exposed to heat or radiation. It relies on the fact that certain minerals emit light when they are exposed to heat.
Fission-track dating: This is a method of dating minerals that have been exposed to nuclear radiation. It relies on the fact that the uranium in the minerals will undergo fission and create tracks that can be counted to determine their age.
Archaeomagnetic dating: This is a method of dating materials that contain magnetic particles by comparing their magnetic properties with those of known reference materials.
Optically stimulated luminescence dating: This is a method of dating minerals that can be trapped inside a burial sediment. It relies on the fact that the minerals emit light when they are exposed to light.
Uranium series dating: This is a method of dating materials that contain uranium. It relies on the fact that the uranium will decay into other isotopes over time, and the ratio of the different isotopes can be used to determine the age of the material.
Electron spin resonance dating: This is a method of dating materials that contain unpaired electrons. It relies on the fact that the electrons will move to a higher energy state when exposed to radiation, and the amount of energy can be used to determine the age of the material.
Cosmogenic nuclide dating: This is a method of dating minerals that have been exposed to cosmic radiation. It relies on the fact that the cosmic rays will create certain isotopes in the minerals, and the ratio of the isotopes can be used to determine the age of the material.
Paleomagnetism: This is the study of the Earth's magnetic fields recorded in rocks and sediments to determine their chronological order.
Radiometric Dating: This method involves using the decay rate of radioactive isotopes in rocks and minerals to determine the age of geological materials.
Dendrochronology: This method involves using the annual growth rings of trees to determine the age of wood and archaeological artifacts.
Varve Chronology: This method involves using the sediment layers in lakes and oceans to determine the age of geological and environmental events.
Archival research: This method involves using historical records and documents to establish the time frame in which an event took place.
Astronomical Dating: This method involves using astronomical cycles and events, such as the positions of stars and planets, to determine the age of celestial objects.
Thermoluminescence: This method involves measuring the amount of light emitted by crystals when they are heated, to determine the time since they were last exposed to sunlight.
Electron Spin Resonance Dating: This method involves measuring the force required to align the electrons in certain materials, to determine the age of geological and archaeological materials.
Fission Track Dating: This method involves measuring the tracks left by uranium decay in certain minerals, to determine the age of geological materials.
U–Pb dating: This method involves using the uranium and lead isotopes in rocks to determine geological and environmental events.
Geochemistry: This method involves using the chemical composition of rocks and mineral deposits to determine their age and origins.
"...rocks or carbon, in which trace radioactive impurities were selectively incorporated when they were formed."
"The use of radiometric dating was first published in 1907 by Bertram Boltwood..."
"...the principal source of information about the absolute age of rocks and other geological features, including the age of fossilized life forms or the age of Earth itself..."
"...radiometric dating methods are used in geochronology to establish the geologic time scale."
"Radiometric dating is also used to date archaeological materials, including ancient artifacts."
"Among the best-known techniques are radiocarbon dating, potassium–argon dating, and uranium–lead dating."
"The method compares the abundance of a naturally occurring radioactive isotope within the material to the abundance of its decay products..."
"...decay products, which form at a known constant rate of decay."
"...it provides a significant source of information about the ages of fossils and the deduced rates of evolutionary change."
"Different methods of radiometric dating vary in the timescale over which they are accurate and the materials to which they can be applied."
"...the absolute age of rocks and other geological features..."
"...the age of Earth itself..."
"...a significant source of information about the ages of fossils..."
"Different methods of radiometric dating vary in the timescale over which they are accurate..."
"...when they were formed."
"...can also be used to date a wide range of natural and man-made materials."
"...radiometric dating methods are used in geochronology to establish the geologic time scale."
"...the deduced rates of evolutionary change."
"Different methods of radiometric dating vary in the timescale over which they are accurate..."